Conduit cleaner



June 6, 1939. P. P. M, DUBOSCLARD 2,151,028

CONDUIT CLEANER Filed May 12, 1957 F/////// ll/z Inventor flzzfiosazard Attorneys Patented June 6, 1939 ATENT OFFlE CONDUIT CLEANER Paul P. M. Dubesclard, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Katherine V. Deem, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application May 12, 1937, Serial No. 142,307

1 Claim.

This invention pertains to conduit cleaners of a type generally similar to that constituting the subject matter of U. S. Patent 2,074,213, issued March 16, 1937, upon which the present device constitutes an improvement.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide, in a conduit cleaner of the type including a rotary brush, a source of power, such as a motor, and flexible means operatively connecting said brush to said source of power, novel means adapted to travel in the conduit being cleaned for yieldingly supporting the drive means centrally in said conduit.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a conduit cleaner of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the present invention, showing same operating in a conduit, the latter being shown in longitudinal section.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises an electric motor I of suitable horse power. Of

course, the motor I may be connected with any suitable source of current supply. Fixedly secured at one end to the electric motor 6 is a flexible tubular housing 2. The other end of the flexible housing 2 is rotatably connected to a brush 3 which, as it is rotated, is adapted to be drawn through the conduit to be cleaned, as at 4. The flexible housing 2 encloses a flexible drive shaft or chain 5 having one end operatively connected to the electric motor 1 for actuation thereby and its other end connected to the brush 3 for rotating said brush.

The reference numeral 6 designates a suitable winch on which a flexible cab-1e l is adapted to be wound. The cable I is rotatably connected to one end of the brush 3 by a suitable swivel 8.

The winch 6 comprises an actuating crank 9 but, of course, any suitable means may be provided for operating said winch. As will be readily apparent, the cable 1, when it is wound on the winch 6, draws the brush 3 through the conduit 4. 5

Fixed on the flexible housing 2, adjacent the rotary brush 3, is a metallic sleeve if]. A set screw H secures the sleeve ID in position on the flexible housing 2. Secured by a set screw l2 on the sleeve I1! is a collar I3 of polygonal cross- 10 section from certain of the flat faces of which pairs of integral ears l4 project. Pivotally' mounted between the pairs of ears M are arms I5 which are yieldingly urged outwardly by springs 16. The free ends of the arms [5 are 15 bifurcated and journalled therein are rollers I! which are adapted to travel on the inner periphery ofthe conduit 4,

It will thus be seen that a means has been provided for supporting the drive shaft and the 20 housing therefor substantially centrally in the conduit 4 at a point adjacent the rotating brush 3. It will also be noted that the construction and arrangement of this supporting unit is such that it will readily adapt itself to various sizes 25 of conduits within a given range. Still further, the rollers I! will readily pass or ride over any irregularities or obstructions that may be encountered in the conduit. The collar or sleeve it is placed on the flexible tubular shaft 2 at 30 the desired distance from the brush 3 and is fastened in position by the screw II. This sleeve ill forms an annular seat for the collar l3 which is fastened to the sleeve by the screw l2. Thus when it is necessary to use a different sized de- 35 vice or pilot composed of the collar [3 and the roller bearing arms l5, for a different sized pipe or conduit, the collar 13 in use is removed and another collar which forms part of a different sized device or pilot is placed on the sleeve I0 40 and fastened in position. This renders it unnecessary to remove the sleeve Ill each time a different sized device is to be attached to the shaft 2 for use with a different sized conduit and this is desirable as the removal and replac- 45 ing of the sleeve ID on the flexible pipe 2 would soon injure the rubber covering of the same, and as the collar i3 is of such larger internal diameter than the external diameter of the shaft 2 this collar [3 can be readily placed over the 50 shaft 2 without injuring the same and this arrangement also prevents injury to the shaft cover which would be caused by frequent setting of the screw II. In other words, the sleeve l0 remains in semi-permanent location and whenever 55 it is desired to use the device on a conduit of a difierent size from that on which the device is last used, it is simply necessary to remove the collar and replace it by a collar of a different sized device which, of course, includes a collar and the spring actuated roller carrying arms Hi.

It is believed that the many advantages of a conduit cleaner embodying the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred form of the improved device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

means for clamping the sleeve to the shaft, a 5

collar fitting around the sleeve and having radiating pairs of cars thereon, an arm pivoted between the ears of each pair, a roller at the outer end of each arm, means for removably fastening the collar to the sleeve and spring 10 means for forcing the arms outwardly to cause the rollers to yieldably engage the internal walls of a conduit, said pivot for the arms constituting anchoring means for the spring means.

PAUL P. M. DU'BOSCLARD. 

